Media Insider podcast: TVNZ chief executive Jodi O'Donnell on the future of Shortland Street, the 6pm news and a move into pay TV

TVNZ chief executive Jodi O'Donnell has opened up on the future of Shortland Street, the 6pm news, and a move into pay television in order to snare big sporting events, such as the Olympics.
In our latest Media Insider podcast, O'Donnell assesses her eventful first 18 months as the boss

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RNZ News

2 days ago

• RNZ News

New IOC president Kirsty Coventry promises collaboration ahead of assuming role

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President elect Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe poses during the 3rd IOC Brisbane 2032 Coordination Commission final press conference at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on May 22, 2025. Photo: PATRICK HAMILTON Kirsty Coventry, the newly elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), emphasised collaboration with stakeholders as a key priority for her tenure, in remarks made ahead of her official takeover next week. Coventry, a former Olympic swimming champion from Zimbabwe and Africa's most decorated Olympian, was elected to the post in March , succeeding Thomas Bach. She will formally assume the role following Monday's handover ceremony in Lausanne. "I like to collaborate, to be able to listen, hear everyone's opinions. I think it is very important," Coventry said during an online media roundtable. "I also know I am the president and need to take decisions and that we need to move." Coventry, 41, is the first woman and the first African to lead the IOC. Her approach is expected to differ from her predecessor's, as Bach was known for the rapid speed and volume of his decision-making and concentration of power. Bach's presidency was marked by wide-ranging reforms, including overhauling the Olympic bidding process, introducing new sports and reducing costs for host cities. He also navigated challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, which delayed the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and led to a spectator-free Beijing 2022 Winter Games. Coventry said the IOC would hold a two-day workshop for its members, starting on 24 June, the day after the handover ceremony, as part of ongoing discussions with stakeholders on key issues. "It was not about title or power," she said when asked about her decision to run for president. "Sometimes those things get in the way and make you focus on the wrong things." Reflecting on her appointment, Coventry acknowledged the significance of her role as the first woman to lead the IOC. "It is not something I have thought about a lot in terms of impact it can have," she said. "In the past days now, I have a much greater understanding of that importance." The IOC generates annual revenues of several billion dollars and Coventry noted the "responsibility" that comes with leading the organisation. "As we get closer to the 23rd, yes, it is an exciting day but a day with a lot of responsibility. I am very proud of the fact that we as members chose at this moment in time to elect the first female president," she added. - Reuters

Otago Daily Times

2 days ago

• Otago Daily Times

Commodore makes new record with role

Leading the way is nothing new for a Queensberry woman who has become the first female Commodore of a radio-controlled yacht squadron in New Zealand. Commodore Alexa Bell said she was the worst of the 13 sailors in the Cromwell Radio Yacht Squadron (CRYS) but was keen to learn and raise the profile of the club. Radio-controlled yacht racing was not a great spectator sport, Mrs Bell said. "It's a bit like cricket. You either get it or you don't get it." However, sailing them was highly competitive. The Cromwell squadron started with five members post-Covid. While there were a huge variety of vessels to choose from the 95cm ones were the preference at Cromwell. For the technically minded they are DS95 class 1 boats. Mrs Bell's introduction to the sport was through her husband Roy Goodwin, who was an enthusiast. The couple, who met on a flight from Auckland to Melbourne, and eventually sailed to New Zealand on a yacht, ending up in Kerikeri. While Mrs Bell had always been keen to move south, Mr Goodwin was convinced the best sailing in the country was in the Bay of Islands. However, two trips to cycle the Central Otago trails had him asking why they were not living here, Mrs Bell said. "I said 'I can fix that'," Mrs Bell said. Three months later they moved. Mr Goodwin joined the Cromwell squadron and Mrs Bell was happy to wave him off, she said. The then Commodore Jamie White, of Cromwell, suggested Mrs Bell give it a go. "I was like 'OK, then' and I got hooked." When Mr White decided he was short of time to manage the club he had a solution. "He told me, didn't ask me, that I was going to be commodore." A big part of the appeal of sailing was the competitiveness and the banter between the sailors, she said. "It's just fun. It's technical but it's fun, you know? I'm terrible, I'm the loser. I've just started but it doesn't matter." With her background it was no surprise competitiveness was the aspect that attracted Mrs Bell. Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Mrs Bell was a professional equestrian — riding, caring for and training horses, and in 1985 set the world record, which still stands, with a jump of 7ft4.5in (2.25m) for puissance — essentially high jump for horses and riders, she said. After representing Canada for about 15 years, while on holiday in Australia she landed a job coaching the Australian Showjumping Team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics — the youngest ever coach and first woman to do so. It was on a flight back to Melbourne from Horse of the Year in Hawke's Bay that she met Mr Goodwin. "I wasn't in the mood to talk, I thought. I was very tired, very grumpy. We hadn't won, you guys [New Zealand] had beat us, I was going home tail between my legs and this guy starts chatting away and I was like, I just want to go to sleep. But three hours later that was it." When she gave up working with horses Mrs Bell went to the Le Cordon Bleu school, in Paris and began a new career in food. She ran Pub Grub in Kerikeri, and brought the business with her to Queensberry. She offers everything from easy meal solutions to full catering service. CRYS was a young club with many members in their 30s, Mrs Bell said. That led to meetings on Sundays at 1pm in the winter and 5.15pm on Tuesdays in the summer. They share the Dunstan Boat Club rooms at McNulty Inlet and sail on the water there. Mrs Bell was keen to increase membership and encouraged more women to join up. Radio-controlled yachts were sailed all around the world and there were thousands of clubs sailing a huge range of vessels. "You could travel all over the world and every day go to a different club and sail somewhere. It's really, really large." The CRYS will host the Otago championships on November 7 and 8. Anyone wanting to find out more would be welcome at McNulty Inlet on Sundays at 1pm or contact the club at

1News

3 days ago

• 1News

Luxon heads to Beijing as Cooks aid pause news breaks

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has wrapped up his Shanghai visit, and said $871 million of commercial agreements were signed today between New Zealand businesses and their Chinese counterparts. He is now headed for Beijing, where he is set to meet with China's president Xi Jinping, and other leaders from the country. Earlier today, it was announced New Zealand has paused nearly $20 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands over its recent dealings with China. Trade delegation bound Beijing for a meeting with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang (Source: 1News) But before departing Shanghai, the Prime Minister said New Zealand's trade relationship with China is "one of our most important" with two way trade "exceeding NZ$39 billion" in the year ending March 2025, which accounts for "more than 20%" of New Zealand's total goods and services exports. ADVERTISEMENT Watch more on the timing of the Cook Islands support pause on TVNZ+ He said the agreements signed today is "a clear sign of strength and momentum in our trade relationship". (Source: Prime Minister's Office) "We also announced we would be making it easier for Chinese nationals to transit via New Zealand by removing the need to get a transit visa, instead being able to get a New Zealanders Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), significantly cutting costs and time for visitors." 'This resulted in one of the major announcements in Shanghai, that China Eastern Airlines was launching twice weekly flights to South America via Auckland.' In Shanghai, Luxon was joined by New Zealand business leaders across the food and beverage, health and wellbeing, education and tourism sectors, along with Ministers Louise Upston and Mark Mitchell. 1News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver unpacks the withdrawal of aid funding due to dealings with China. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT During the Shanghai trip, Luxon participated in a livestream event with Upston, which he said was watched by over 10 million people, to promote New Zealand travel offerings. He also visited Fudan University, one of China's most prestigious academic institutions, to "promote New Zealand as a destination for world-class research, study, and partnership". Luxon then met with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining to discuss Shanghai as a gateway for a high proportion of New Zealand goods, services and people-to-people flows, and other bilateral issues. Luxon's trip to China has come amid global uncertainty, amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. After his meetings in Beijing, the Prime Minister will then go to Europe to undertake bilateral visits in Brussels and the Hague, and take part in the NATO summit.